Former FTC Litigator Appointed General Counsel of American Antitrust Institute

“Today I begin the next chapter of my legal career. I am delighted to join the American Antitrust Institute as its General Counsel. I have long respected AAI’s work promoting competition that protects consumers, businesses and society,” Hegedus said in the statement.

Before joining AAI, Hegedus spent 17 years as a litigation attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Trade Commission, where he represented the agency in major cases nationwide, including matters that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, per a statement outlining his professional background. During that time, he handled high-stakes litigation at both the trial and appellate levels and became a frequent presence in federal courts.

A seasoned appellate lawyer, Hegedus has drafted merits and amicus briefs and presented oral arguments in nearly every federal circuit court of appeals, according to a statement. His FTC work also required extensive coordination with other parts of the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Solicitor General, Antitrust Division, and Civil Division, to develop unified litigation positions.

His contributions at the FTC were formally recognized when he received the Brandeis Award, one of the agency’s highest honors, per a statement. In addition to courtroom advocacy, Hegedus advised FTC commissioners and staff on a wide range of internal and legal matters, including legal privileges, document preservation, and document management obligations.

Beyond litigation, Hegedus was active in agency leadership and culture. According to a statement, he played a leading role in the FTC’s Diversity Council and was involved in supporting the agency’s LGBTQ+ community, contributing to efforts aimed at fostering a more inclusive workplace.

Earlier in his career, Hegedus was a partner at Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP, where he spent more than a decade representing municipal and cooperative entities in complex energy litigation. That work included proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state public service commissions, and federal courts, per a statement. His background also includes service as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division’s Transportation, Energy and Agriculture Section.

Hegedus is widely regarded as an expert on antitrust and competition issues affecting the electric and gas industries, according to a statement. He has contributed to the field through writing and professional engagement, including serving as a contributing author to the American Bar Association’s Energy Antitrust Handbook, Third Edition, published in 2017. He has also been a frequent participant in the American Antitrust Institute’s Energy Roundtables, maintaining ties to the organization he now joins.

Academically, Hegedus holds a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, per a statement. Before attending law school, he spent three years working as congressional staff for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, experience that added a legislative perspective to his legal career.

Outside of his professional life, Hegedus is proficient in French and is an active choral singer, according to a statement. Colleagues have described him as a collaborative leader with a track record of helping to build welcoming and inclusive work environments.

Source: Antitrust Institute